U.S. Gulf:
Towing restrictions continued at Port Allen Lock during the week following a recent barge collision that damaged a guidewall. Tows traveling to the west with more than one barge were required to utilize an assist vessel, while single-barge tows were permitted to lock unassisted. Tows moving in the eastbound direction were required to use an assist boat on lengths greater than 650 feet.
Most crossings at Port Allen were reported in the 7-13 hour range during the week, although intermittent delays were seen spiking to as high as 21 hours, sources said.
Algiers Lock towing restrictions remained in effect for the week. Tows with widths above 60 feet were limited to 600-foot lengths, while tow widths narrower than 60 feet were permitted strings up to 700 feet in length. The constraints, in place until further notice, effectively limited lockages to four standard barges or two 30,000 mt tankers.
Dredging operations at Southwest Pass, which have been blamed for restricting blue-water vessel transit, were expected to conclude at 6:00 p.m. on Jan. 19. The operation, reportedly focused on Miles 0-2 in the Gulf/lower Mississippi River, was previously scheduled to run on Jan. 15-17, blocking traffic daily from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Sources said overnight fog delays slowed movements in the Gulf and Canals during the week. Daylight-hour conditions were described as ideal, however.
Bayou Sorrel Lock delays were reported up to eight hours for the week, while boats transiting Industrial Lock saw waits in the 5-10 hour range. Colorado Lock movements were subject to intermittent 9-10 hour wait times.
Mississippi River:
Channel work at the lower Mississippi River’s Mile 208 was projected to block southbound travel during daytime hours on Jan. 19-22, shortened from the previous Jan. 18-22 schedule. Vessels heading north were considered for daytime passage on a boat-by-boat basis, sources said. Following the conclusion of work at Mile 208, the operation is scheduled to move to Mile 30, with similar restrictions anticipated.
Installation of power lines at Mile 369 has been postponed until further notice per the contractor’s request, sources said. Once restarted, the effort is expected to block daytime navigation in both directions while work is underway.
Low water levels continued to slow transportation between St. Louis and Cairo, Ill. The NWS river gauge at St. Louis was reported at 2.11 feet on Jan. 20, and was expected to descend to the 0.00-foot mark on Feb. 2-3.
The Lock 27 auxiliary chamber is shut through Jan. 29 for maintenance and repairs. Following the auxiliary project’s completion, the primary chamber is scheduled to close to navigation on Feb. 1-18, with sources predicting extensive delays. Waits were noted up to five hours at Lock 27 for the week.
The upper Mississippi River is closed for the winter navigation season. Upper river locks are scheduled to begin reopening for spring travel on March 15, starting with Locks 13-19, while Lock 25 is scheduled to return to service as early as March 31.
Illinois River:
Ice coverage continued to be reported on the Illinois Waterway, slowing navigation and necessitating the use of ice couplings. Ice coverage on Peoria Lake was noted thinning to approximately 0.5 inches.
Utica Bridge demolition has been postponed to Jan. 27 from the previously scheduled Jan. 13. Transit is projected to be unavailable through Mile 229.6 for at least 24 hours. The project was originally slated for Dec. 22.
Wickets remained raised for the week at both Peoria Lock and LaGrange Lock, slowing movements. Peoria Lock travel was delayed up to 15 hours, while sources noted LaGrange Lock wait times peaking above 28 hours for the week.
Ohio River:
The Emsworth Lock main chamber is closed to navigation through Jan. 27 for repairs and maintenance. Sources reported traffic locking one barge per turn through the smaller auxiliary chamber, with resulting waits noted up to 14 hours for the week.
The auxiliary chamber at Markland Lock is scheduled to remain shut through Oct. 29 due to cracks in the miter gate. Locking is projected to remain available through the primary chamber, with minimal delays expected.
The Meldahl Lock 1,200-foot primary chamber will close for repairs and maintenance from Feb. 22 through April 30, prompting tows to detour through the 600-foot secondary chamber. Delays are predicted.
Secondary chamber closures are scheduled for Feb. 1 through April 1 at Smithland Lock. The shutdowns will affect both of the site’s auxiliary chambers, running 30 days each. Boats will continue locking through the main chamber while the project is underway, with minimal delays predicted.
Sources reported a planned New Cumberland Lock auxiliary lock shutdown slated to run March 8 through June 10. The Greenup Lock primary chamber will close from May 10 through June 11, leaving tows to pass through the secondary chamber, with substantial delays predicted. Looking ahead, the Corps has scheduled a main chamber shutdown at Cannelton Lock from June 21 through Nov. 19.
Olmsted Lock saw waits up to five hours for the week. Sources noted Jan. 19-20 delays at Kentucky Lock peaking at nearly 21 hours.
On the Monongahela River, Braddock Lock transport was scheduled to undergo five separate eight-hour navigation interruptions on Jan. 11-25, each projected to block movements from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Arkansas River:
The Arkansas River’s Norrell Lock, located at Mile 10, will close for emergency repairs from 6:00 a.m. on Feb. 2 through 6:00 p.m. on Feb. 6. No locking will be available at the site while work is underway, effectively blocking access to and from the river.